Spellbinders™ Celebrates 5^th Anniversary with a World Wide Blog Party!

Two-week Anniversary Celebration!

When: January 5 to January 20, 2009

Where: Spellbinders™ Designer Blogs

You, our favorite crafters, do NOT want to miss any of our Bloggers’ new Spellbinders™ Die Template releases during our Fifth Anniversary Blog Party. We are celebrating FIVE incredible years of changing the die cutting industry and YOU get the presents with daily sneak peeks, incredible prizes and amazing projects. Many of the new die templates debut during the Winter Craft and Hobby Association Show (CHA) in Anaheim, California, January 25-28, 2009, at Spellbinders™ booth #4873.

Beginning Monday, January 5^th and continuing through January 20^th, a different Spellbinders™ Designer (schedule below) will preview at least one of more than two dozen new die templates set to debut at Winter CHA. These exclusive sneak peeks will be available ONLY through Spellbinders™ Designers’ Blogs!

In addition to getting the first look at these new die templates, you’ll find innovative project ideas and can sign up during specified times for a chance to win daily prizes, as well as become eligible to win the Grand Prize … a complete set of all new release die templates valued at more than $600!

For more information … and to be sure you don’t miss a minute of Spellbinders’ 5^th Anniversary Celebration … visit these blogs on the following dates!

• JANUARY 5: Thinking Inking by Debbie Olson
• JANUARY 6: Mish Mash by Michelle Wooderson
• JANUARY 7: Today’s Creations by Holly Craft
• JANUARY 8: Walkin’ on the BAD side by Sherry Cheever
• JANUARY 9: Embellished Dreams by Heidi Blankenship
• JANUARY 10: Amazing Paper Grace by Becca Feeken
• JANUARY 11: Created from Paper by Jennifer Ellefson


This Die Template will be revealed in full view... soon.

• JANUARY 12: PaperFection by Sharon Harnist
• JANUARY 13: Mixed Media Madness by Jeni Calkins
• JANUARY 14: Wickedly Wonderful Creations by Wendy Weixler
• JANUARY 15: Cookies for Breakfast by Beth Pingry
• JANUARY 16: Pink Lemonade by Keri Lee Sereika (link is all better now)
• JANUARY 17: Inky Heart by Sally Lynn MacDonald
• JANUARY 18: Donya Schroeder by Donya Schroeder
• JANUARY 19: Linda’s Works of Heart by Linda Duke
• JANUARY 20: Follow Your Bliss by Trudee Sauer

We can’t wait to see you there: Beth and Eli

Linda does an amazing job of making paper die cuts look real with her signature technique of shading.  She put together this tutorial to show us how she does it.  I can’t wait to try this myself, take it away, Linda!

I wanted to share the technique I use when shading projects. I’m going to start at the very beginning, step by step and shade this lovely sunflower die.

Shown in Photo 1, supplies are Ranger Dye stamp pads, Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, flower and Leaf Die Template and cotton balls. I have so many people ask me about the cotton balls, so when asked to do this tutorial I was thrilled.

Hold the cotton ball like you would hold a sponge.

Photo 3: Rub cotton ball on inkpad, I used Latte.

Photo 4: The cotton ball holds a lot of ink, so I use my craft paper pad to take some of the ink off. Practice on scrap paper until you become familiar with the amount of ink cotton balls hold.

Photo 5: Always start in the center of the flower because it will not been seen when finished, this help me know how much ink is still on the cotton ball and I won’t have a glob of ink where someone can see it when finished. NOTE: If I were working on a project that is very small, I would start on the paper pad underneath and drag over the edge.

Photo 6: Work out from the center of the flower to the tips of the petals. (Lightly).

Photo 7: The flower on the left is completely shaded, while the flower on the right only has ink in the center.

Photo 8: Working with darker ink (Sunset Orange) can be a little scary because you will see every little mark. Just remember to work most of the ink off the cotton ball before you start working on your project. You can always go over it again.

Photo 9: You can see how the color of the flower starts to build.

Photo 10: Using Sunset Orange for a second coat.

Photo 11: Using Red Pepper.

Photo 12: Using Rust.

Photo 13: Using Cranberry.

Photo 14: Shows what the flower is starting to look like.

Photo 15

Photo 15: Using Espresso (only in the center).

Photo 16: Shows Glimmer Mist applied with the cotton ball.

Photo 17: Assemble as shown and you are done.

Photo 18: The finished product.

Because of all the ink, the flower needs to dry completely before adding dimensionals in the center. If you want to use a sponge you can, but I find they can streak your project. Cotton leaves a soft look.

I hope you have fun making your flowers; I have so much fun making mine.

Linda Duke

Thank you so much Linda!  When you try this technique, show us your results with a link in the comments, and don’t forget to click on the stars to rate Linda’s tutorial.

Happy Shading!

Beth

The Wizard is a universal craft tool, and will cut all of the consumer dies on the market. Today’s lesson is on the Low Profile Dies, with brand names such as Sizzlits, Thin Cuts, Cuttlebug, Clearlits and Embosslits. These dies have a plastic back and foam covering the cutting edge.

To use this type of die in the Wizard Die Cutting and Embossing System, use this sandwich:

White Master Mat
Low Profile Die, foam side up
Material to cut
White Master Mat

Feed this sandwich into the Wizard.

Happy Die Cutting!

We hope you are having a wonderful Holiday season!

Beth

Many thanks to Linda for agreeing to tell us more about herself and her art!

Tell us how you got started crafting.
As long as I can remember, I have always been interest in art.  My dad was a very talented artist, and I would spend hours watching him draw.  I always had paper and pencil in hand and tried to draw the things he did.

Do you have an art or design background?
While in high school, I took every art class I could, and continued in college as an Art Major.  Although I never received a degree, I enjoyed a few years of learning to work with all mediums.

What is your favorite die? Favorite technique? Favorite Preferred Product?
As for my favorite die, that’s difficult because I really enjoy them all, but my favorite would be the Nestabilities.  They are perfect for card making and stamping.  My favorite technique would have to be coloring with either PrismaColor Pencils or Copic Markers.  Both are great for achieving a realistic look and perfect for shading.  My favorite Preferred Product would be WorldWin card stock.  It comes in so many different colors, and excellent quality.

Do you prefer to make cards, scrapbooks, or altered items?
I love to make altered items.  It is so much fun to give something plain, texture, and depth.

How many hours a week do you craft?
Unfortunately I do not have much time during the week because of my day job.  However, on the weekend I spend every minute I can in my little room.

What time of day do you usually craft?
Most of the time I am up until three or four in the morning on Friday and Saturday nights playing.

Do you craft by yourself or with others?
I usually craft alone.

Do you shop locally or online?
I do shop at Michael’s, but mostly online.

What kind of craft studio do you have?
Since it is just my DH and I at home now, I was able to turn one of our spare bedrooms into my craft room. I could just live in there LOL!

What are some tools that you could not live without (aside from Spellbinder’s products)?
Scissors: Love the 3D look that requires a lot of cutting.
Magazines: I collect all of them. Since I live in a small town, they help me stay up to date with what’s going on in the industry.

Linda is sharing some of her favorite art pieces.  Don’t you just love the way she shades the die cuts?  They look so real!  Coming up on Savvy Saturday Linda will show us just how she shades and inks the die cuts so  you (and I)  can embellish like this!

Flower Basket

Sunflower Box

Field of Sun Scrapbook Layout

To learn more about Linda, see her bio and her personal blog!  Thank you Linda!  I can’t wait for Saturday!

Beth

Thanks to everyone who participated in our little “Get-the-word-out” contest. We love all your blogs and appreciate the support. We can’t wait to see all the art come in for the Design Team Contest.
So here is our winner, chosen by random integer generator at random.org:

Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson Says:
December 19th, 2008 at 6:48 am

Well, lets try this link for the third time. Geez, this is embarrasing! I guess I just lost my chance at the design team since I can’t even make an accurate link! I’m really not this computer inept! LOL! I wish you had a way of deleting my own comments on your post. LOL! Anyhow, hopefully this is the right link and if this one doesn’t work, I give up! LOL! But I guarantee you, the post is there! LOL! http://amyscreativepursuits.blogspot.com/2008/12/2009-spellbinders-paper-arts-design.html

Well, AMY. Your post did work, so I guess the third time is the charm. Please e-mail me at spellbinderseditor@yahoo.com and we’ll get that prize right out to you.

Congrats and thanks again to everyone for playing and for sharing our contest info on your blogs.

Cheers,
Eli, Community Communications Specialist

I watched my third grade daughter create a Christmas ornament for a classmate several days ago, I thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

It was a classic snowflake cut out. You know, fold the paper, cut out little parts from the inside, open it up and there it is, an incredible, one-of-a-kind snowflake.

It occurred to me. “Why can’t I do that technique using my Wizard™. Use the dies to cut out the intricate shapes that are so lovely in a snowflake.”

Well, it worked. But it was not easy. I know, you all are used to whipping out your Wizard™, throwing a few dies down, having them cut on the first go around and moving on. Well, that was not how this process worked. But I really felt that sharing it with you was a MUST. So…gather your Wizard™, some dies (preferrably Shapeabilities® dies, not the ones in the plate form), some vellum or light-weight paper, your best little pair of scissors and your patience and let’s get started.

First, the result called “Wicked Beauty”

It features a storm we had several years ago that left 3 feet of snow around town and closed it down for several days.

Now, the challenge, to create the snowflakes. Do you have your supplies ready:

As you can see, here are some of the Die Templates I chose to use for this project: Doodle Parts, Stars 5, Butterflies 2 and the tiniest Paisley. There are lots of choices, just remember to really look at the shape that is being produced by the Die Template and don’t think about what it actually is.

To begin, fold a 7 inch vellum square:

Begin with the outer shape of the snowflake which will help define the overall look. I chose to cut the first with the points of the largest nested star:

Here is where the patience begins. After the first cutting pass on the Wizard, you’ll get just 3, maybe four layers cut…there are 8, yikes. remove the flaps that are cut from the snowflake:

Now replace the die on the snowflake and run it through to cut again. It will get more challenging for the tamplate to cut through the layers. That’s when you’ll rely on the trusty old scissors to finish the job.

The straight cuts are not so hard but but let’s get to the really interesting shapes. Note how I placed part of the star shape above the Die Template. That part will not be cut:

Again, remove as much of the vellum layers as you can. Repeat the cutting process in the Wizard™ and then working back and forth between Wizard™ and scissors, remove all 8 layers of the paper. Wow. It is beginning to take shape.

Now you get the gist. Keep adding shapes and being very careful. The Shapeabilities® Die Templates tend to want to slip off the vellum. I know this because I was challenged by slipping that cut out the entire center of my first big snowflake. So using a bit of low-tac transparent tape can help.

Now get to it. Create your own snowflake projects. Just take along some patience, scissors and your Wizard™.

Cheers to all, Eli

Now that you are heart rate has come down to a normal level (after reading about our next Design Team Contest…OH. MY. GOSH…)

We want to sweeten the deal by adding some, you guessed it…

Blog Candy: Win one of these…

Labels 2

Labels Large

If you post the link (found below) from our design team contest on your blog, we’ll enter you to win one of our awesome labels dies, such as: Labels 1, Labels 2 or Labels Large (depending on stock on-hand.) Then post to us here in the comment section–

–with a link back to your blog. If it all checks out, we’ll enter  you to win one of our seriously popular Labels Die Templates.

We’ll give you until Monday, December 22, midnight CST. On Tuesday, we’ll share the love here…

Can’t wait to see you spread the news.  Eli

Thanks for your participation, we have selected a winner, see post on December 22!

Beth

Design Team 08

Stacey here: We are again searching nation-wide for talented paper crafters, scrapbookers, card makers and rubber stamping artists to become a part of our creative family! Unique experiences and opportunities await you! I do hope you’ll give it a whirl. We work hard and have a lot of fun! Check out our team who came on board last year…woohoo!  Hugs, Stacey Caron.

To be eligible you must:

Contest Art Requirements:

• Is your style fresh and funky? Upscale and sophisticated? Simple and elegant…..show us your best in a 12×12 layout.

PLUS

• Using apertures, pop-ups, pull-outs or basic and simple, we want to see your magic happen when it comes to card making! Submit one card.

PLUS

• Show us your altered ego! Through creative altered ideas, whether its home decorative projects, calendars, journals, or jewelry, we want to see your best! Submit one altered project.

PLUS

• Submit one rubber stamped project, the choice of style is yours! There are no limitations, so make it fun!

PLUS

• An essay, about 500 words sharing a little about your personality and about yourself as a designer. Why is paper art your passion? Why do you want to be on the Spellbinders Design Team? Has your work been published (not required)? Do you have a blog (not required)? What do you want Spellbinders to know about you?
• Please include on the bottom, if you have or are involved in, the following (does not count for your 500 words) 1) Blog address 2) Creative Resume Address 3) Design Teams past and present (links to sites if there are any) again, not required, just want to know

Your ORIGINAL creative, innovative designs. Something that makes us go “WOW!” Something that says to us that you love what you do! We would like to know the story behind each item, told in journaling, in photographs, or by other means.

You are not required to use any Spellbinders products in your entries, but after all, we are a die cut company and it certainly couldn’t hurt. Spellbinders dies are universal and may be used in most leading die cut systems, please refer to the compatibility chart for instructions. Also, art does not have to be new for this contest. It just has to be your original artwork.

Design Team Tenure Requirements:

Monthly: one layout, one card and one altered project, one option style project.

Trade Shows: A minimum of six trade show projects per year, to be assigned.

Consumer Shows/Education: 2 Layouts, 2 cards for Education and/or Consumer booth, 1 technique board/year, other projects as assigned.

On Line Forums:Involved on a weekly basis with at least one on-line forum

Encouraged:Active with your own blog.

These are just minimums…you can submit as many projects as you want throughout your tenure.

Submission Schedule:

All entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2009, Central Standard Time. We sincerely regret that we can only accept entries from residents of the United States.

Monday, February 9, 2009, Spellbinders will contact the top 20 entrants and invite them to continue to the final round of the Spellbinders 2009 Design Team Contest. These finalists will be sent product to create an assignment for the final round of the competition. Finalists will submit their special assignment entries on February 20, 2009, to Spellbinders.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, Stacey Caron, President of Spellbinders Paper Arts will be making personal phone calls to each one of the lucky winners of this contest! A minimum of eight Design Team members will be notified that day, so be sure to list every phone number you want us to try!!!

You must be available to fly to Phoenix on Wednesday April 15, 2009, and remain in Phoenix until Sunday, April 19. Spellbinders Paper Arts will pay for all expenses for this trip. Your Design Team assignment will officially start on 5/1/09 and last until 4/30/10. Your first projects will be due on 5/1/09.

How to enter:

• YourNameLayoutOut.jpg
• YourNameCard.jpg
• YourNameAltered.jpg
• YourNameStamped.jpg
• YourNameEssay.doc
• YourNameEntryform.doc

Please take clear, high quality photos or scans of your work.

Designers accepted as DT Members will receive:

• A Raspberry Wizard
• A $350 Die Starter Kit
• Numerous new dies throughout the year, with surprise gifts thrown in along the way!
• An all expense paid trip to sunny Phoenix, AZ, with a tour of the facility, a weekend of workshops and fun!
• The opportunity to go to one or more of the major Hobby trade shows.
• The chance to have your art displayed at major shows and in major magazine advertisements.
• Financial reimbursement for each piece of art that is published in one of Spellbinder’s catalogs, or used in an advertisement campaign.
• Numerous opportunities for product reimbursement throughout the year, and…
• A year-end bonus!!!

All questions should be submitted to designteam@spellbinders.us with a subject line of “Design Team Contest Question”.

Beautiful Details Inspire Creativity

• Name
• Address
• City, State, Zip
• Email Address
• Home telephone number
• Work telephone number
• Cell phone telephone number
• Any other possible numbers to try on Monday, February 9, 2009 if you are one of the lucky winners.

Spellbinders introduced Borderabilites Grand Borders this past summer. The Grand Borders are wonderful fun for scrapbookers and everyone else too! Grand Borders measure true 12″ long. They come in designs that coordinate with the Rose, Daisy and Wisteria Edgeabilities Die Template styles, and one with the Symbology Die Template. You may have seen this tutorial I did for the summer reveal, but it deserves another run now that you have the borders in your stash, along with some fresh artwork at the end.
I am using Spellbinders Premium Craft Foil, which is 12 inches wide  It doesn’t matter which color I use, because I want the silver side. It comes in 5 colors plus pure copper, each color has silver on the back, except the pure copper. I used a tag from the Ribbon Tags Trio and the Daisy Patch Edgability Die Template. The paper is Worldwin’s ColorMates in Deep Awesome Aqua, Deep Totally Tan, Light Heritage White, and Inkjet Printable Translucent Vellum, and black acrylic paint. Note that this technique works on foil as well as paper. Die cutting and embossing a 12 inch long die template on standard mats is easy. Use the standard Spellbinders Die Template sandwich, when stacked from your table up: white master mat, white spacer plate, die, cut side up, material to be cut, white master mat. A little tip, if you are concerned your material will move off the die, you can use a small piece of removable tape. It won’t harm the die, and it peels off the paper easily without damaging the die cut.

Feed this into your Wizard. With a 12 inch long die, part of the die will stick out the back end, and that is fine. Only the part of the die that sits on the Spacer Plate will cut, but it won’t leave a line or crease where the spacer plate ends.

After the first pass, lift the top mat, turn the border die 180 degrees so the uncut portion is on the spacer plate, replace the top mat and feed it in exactly the same way as before. You can remove the excess cut foil from the outside of the die.

Embossing is done the same way. Leave the die cut in the die. Remove the spacer plate from the sandwich so the die sits on the bottom mat, place the tan embossing mat on top of the die, and cover with the top white mat. Feed the embossing sandwich through the Wizard. To emboss the other half, turn the die 180 degrees, cover with the Tan mat and white mat and feed sandwich again.

For my layout, I painted the entire die cut with black acrylic craft paint. Paint it evenly, and be sure to get paint into all the nooks and crannies. Let it dry slightly. With a dry paper towel, wipe the paint off the embossed areas. Be gentle, but you don’t have to be perfect. Do not wipe the paint out of the crevices. You can always add more a little more paint if you took too much off and you can always take a little more off if you put too much on.

I assembled my layout with photos and a poem.

Daisy Layout by Beth Pingry

Cathy Chlebana used the same Daisy Borderability Grand on this layout of her mother.

Layout by Cathy Chlebana

This decorative box is from Donya Schroeder, isn’t it clever how she used the Rose Borderability Grand?

Altered Box by Donya Schroeder

This heart shaped ornament from Heidi Blankenship is another example of Rose Borderability Grand.  She wrapped it around the heart shape.

Decorative Heart by Heidi Blankenship

Wendy Weixler layered the Wisteria Borderability Grand for an elegant accent on this layout.

Wedding layout by Wendy Weixler

Sally Lynn MacDonald linked together the Illumination Borderability Grand to frame her layout.

Layout by Sally Lynn McDonald

Thanks for spending some of your Saturday with me!  I hope you love the Grand Borders as much as I do!

Beth

PS.  I just got word, and its just for you!  Its an announcement.  Oh no, not just any old announcement.  This is a big one!  I bet you’ve been waiting for it too!  Come back on Monday December 15 for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.  Want some candy?  We’ve got Blog Candy coming, and a new feature too!  Its going to be so much fun, I can’t wait to tell you about it!

A day filled with running the kids to and from school, meeting a fellow volunteer for coffee to go over the next steps in the big project, getting the snow tires put on the car, paying a few bills, shopping online for Christmas gifts, making sure is enough wrapping paper for the approaching holiday, writing out a few end of the year greetings…and the list goes on…a jam-packed schedule can sometimes take the joy out of celebrating a season of giving, of peace and of miracles.

Today, I am sharing with you four cards announcing that simple state of being that runs deep: JOY!

Three members of our Design Team created cards that express this simple word. Through the loveliness and grace of these projects, may we all be inspired to live into and pass on the sentiment that it brings.

Jennifer Ellefson begins our fashion show today with a vintage take on the subject. Featuring our Christmas Stocking, she gave it a well-loved look by using metallic rub-ons. The ruched paper by WorldWin also adds to the age-old appeal.

Spellbinders™ Supplies: S3-142 Festive Stockings, S3-147 Labels Trio, S4-145 Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles (S4-145)

Other Supplies: Ruched papers (WorldWin), Patterned paper, lace, sentiments stamp, metallic rub-ons

Joy Stocking by Jennifer Ellefson

Joy Placeard by Beth Pingry

Next: Beth Pingry (our other blogger, extraordinaire) created this place card for a friend but it seems to translate well into a great card for the season too.

Spellbinders™ Supplies:
S3-141 Stars, S4-139 Double Ended Tags (smallest), S3-142 Long Classic Rectangles, Large (2 largest dies), L1-01 Caesar Font (retired), F-005 Gold Premium Craft Foil

Other Supplies: ColorMates Bright Heritage White and Deep Heritage Black paper (WorldWin), Fabri-tac adhesive (Beacon), Clearsnap ColorBox Chianti ink, Brads (Creative Impressions), red patterned paper, sticker maker

Layered Joy by Beth Pingry

Third in line is another of Beth’s cards. I love the subtle print on the coordinating papers and the repeated image of the Labels 2 Die Template. Sublime.

Spellbinders™ Supplies: S4-162 Labels 2, S3-138 Ribbons & Bells (retired), L2-09 Julius Font

Other Supplies: ColorMates Medium Outdoor Olive and Mirri Cast Gold papers (WorldWin), ColorBox Creamy Brown fluid chalk ink (Clearsnap), Pop-up Glue Dots, patterned papers, memory glue

And Finally: Cathy Chlebana offers us an elegant window card. By cutting out a window from the card front, Cathy’s sentiment is actually adhered to the inside of the card and so it remains visible when the card is opened. This is a nice surprise for the recipient.

Holly Joy card Cathy Chlebana

Spellbinders™ Supplies: S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles, Large, S4-144 Long Classic Rectangles, Small, S3-139 Holly & Lights, L1-01 Caesar Font retired), F-002 Gold Premium Craft Foil

Other Supplies: Glue Dots, green and red velvet ribbons, 1/8″ hole punch, Sticker maker adhesive

Cheers for your holiday preparations: Eli